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3D and 4D Ultrasounds: Seeing Babies Like a Bat
Though ultrasound is used as a diagnostic tool today, it was considered a therapy when it first appeared in medicine in the 1920s. Read on to learn how today's 3D and 4D ultrasounds work.
Ultrasound machines are complex pieces of equipment, but the basic principle is so simple a bat can use it. Send out high-pitched sound signals (so high-pitched humans can't hear them, in fact), and listen for them to bounce back. The time it takes for the sound to return tells you how close you are to another object, and sending dozens of these signals per second gives you a pretty good picture of the contours of the environment ahead of you and which bugs are juiciest. In the case of an ultrasound machine, these calculations typically map a 2D picture of a growing fetus in the womb. A 3D ultrasound takes this idea a step further, sending ultrasonic waves from a variety of angles around the body to provide a significantly more detailed picture. Adding the element of time results in a moving 3D image, often called a 4D ultrasound. Both 3D and 4D ultrasounds are elective procedures, most commonly used to show what a baby looks like and to identify its gender.
Though ultrasonic technology is used as a diagnostic tool today, it was considered a therapy when it first appeared in medicine in the 1920s, using much more intense ultrasonic energy to apply controlled heat to tissues deep within the body. However, in 1955, Professor Ian Donald of Glasgow University?s Department of Midwifery began to test its application to the diagnosis of tumors, creating a stir in the medical community when he identified a large but operable ovarian cyst in a patient who had been misdiagnosed with inoperable cancer of the stomach. In 1959 he discovered that the ultrasonic waves could provide images of fetuses as well, allowing doctors to study pregnancy at all stages, diagnose any complications, and help name the baby by seeing which celebrity it looks most like.

Cactus Medspa is a collaboration between Cactus Salon and Associated Plastic Surgeons, and the result represents the best of both worlds. At the spa's six locations, specialists smooth faces with Botox and other injectables, focusing on beautifying their clients as the staff does at the parent salon. With an eye toward safety, a board-certified plastic surgeon oversees each treatment.

Instead of adhering to fad diets and trendy workouts, the exercise physiologist and nutrition experts that create fitness plans at Smithtown Personal Training & Nutrition get back to the basics. With a focus on time-tested approaches to exercise—such as strength training and cardio—their regimens are rooted in medical and scientific research. Sessions are tailored to crush specific goals set by each client, and PTI reaches out to everyone from students starting their first fitness regimens to seniors looking to increase their bone density and reduce their cholesterol.

Licensed massage therapist May Budd soothes muscles after intense workouts at the J.P. Verdisco Exercise Health & Fitness center and treats drop-in guests just in need of a therapeutic massage. Her full-body massages can be paired with aromatherapy oils for an additional stress-relieving boost. She also performs foot reflexology. These treatments aid the flow of energy throughout the body, using pressure points on the soles of the feet. J.P. Verdisco Exercise Health & Fitness shares its spread of clinical exercise services with the public to help everyone—from athletes to patients with cardiovascular disease—better themselves through rehabilitation, sports science, and physiological care.

Doctors Bouwhuis and Beierle strive to eliminate chronic pain caused by musculoskeletal issues. During consultations, they diagnose concerns such as slipped or bulging discs and incorrect posture, then develop lifelong habit improvements and preventive measures with each client to avoid further aggravation. They then execute an adjustment to alleviate discomfort and improve range of motion. They can also arrange rehabilitative plans consisting of corrective exercises to be performed three days a week, thus continuing their efforts to not only relieve the pain now but keep it from recurring.

For more than 30 years, the doctors at Plaza Podiatry have been working to keep feet healthy by treating issues that range from foot pain to diabetic ulcers. At their new office, they keep feet looking their best with FDA-approved laser technology for treating toenail fungus, warts, spider veins, and unwanted hair.